I was wholly unprepared for your announcement, and hope that assurance is my sufficient apology for having taken the liberty of addressing you.

I have recently come home to England after a long absence.

I have seen at my mother's--Mrs Clennam in the city--a young woman working at her needle, whom I have only heard addressed or spoken of as Little Dorrit.

I have felt sincerely interested in her, and have had a great desire to know something more about her.

I saw her, not a minute before you came up, pass in at that door.' The old man looked at him attentively.